Friday, July 14, 2017

Free People of Color in New Orleans

Po
Boy Views

By

Phil
LaMancusa

Free
People of Color

Or

New
Orleans’ Third Society

It might be important to note, as we reach our three
hundredth birthday, that New Orleans’ is not,
what can be considered, an old
settlement/colony and that for over two hundred years before us the societies that fashioned our world here were in full
swing long before Sieur de Bienville
brought the first two slaves (George and Mary) into the French outpost that was
in the crescent of the river that the Ojibwa Indians called misi zibi or Father of Waters.

The period of exploration and land grabbing was pretty
much a white man’sundertaking
and the subjugation of ‘primitive’ peoples (indigenous American, African) for
pleasure and profit was part of the modus operandi of the male Anglo explorers
and exploiters. It goes without saying also, that a shortage of European women
did not deter the conquering heroes from exercising their sexual impulses with
whatever female happened to be on hand; Indigenous Americans were harder to
handle and soon were either displaced or destroyed; however, the slave trade
was well established and provided ample opportunity and supply of feminine
companionship. As a result, Africans, as time went on, were subjected to a
genetic melding with Europeans, these mixed
blooded Africans multiplied in numbers and became a new culture and class
of citizenry; and they needed to be reckoned with, much for very practical purposes.

Exploring and evidencing was part and parcel for this
third race of peoples to fit into Anglo/Afro society, and the complexities of
this racial bridge had astounding consequences. From the beginning of our
French and Spanish occupation-- with the occurrence of manumission and the
outright ability of an enslaved person to purchase their freedom-- a class of
peoples did arise throughout our colonies and was labeled Les Gens de Couleur Libres--- Free People of Color (FPC). As time
went on, classes within this class gave rise to definitions and labeling
concerning the degree of proportion of blood—Black compared with White-- that
these Creoles of Color had running through their veins. Mulatto (50% African);
Quadroon (25% African); Octoroon (1/8 or less); ‘not all Free People of Color were Creole and not all Creoles were free
people of color but over time there has been some tendency to conflate the two,
or use the word to refer to people of mixed race, which many but not all free
people of color were’ (LSU libraries)

Generation
after generation, through, the systems of outright taking of concubines and the
more formal Placage arrangement placed
women of color into the arms of European men; perpetuating the systems themselves.
And, with the rearing and educating of the resulting offspring and subsequent societal
mobility as a side effect, not only was eventual freedom a likelihood but, the
ensuing possibility of economic security and solidarity from this closely knit
society (FPC), as well, was practically guaranteed. Against all odds the FPC actually thrived and
prospered. ‘On the eve of the Civil War
(1862), in New Orleans alone, there were 18,000 FPC owning and paying taxes on
$15,000,000.00 worth of property.’ (Le Musee de F.P.C.) That’s literally
between ten and fifteen percent of the population working in professional
capacities, as artists and artisans, opening businesses, owning land and in
some cases purchasing slaves for personal use.

As first generation American and a northerner to boot,
the scope and importance that FPC had that influenced not just the United
States in general, but New Orleans in
particular is somewhat beyond my ken (and possibly yours); however, I can
tell you from what I have read and can understand, if you are going to
understand this city to any degree, you need to know how FPC formed the
foundation of our world here; the very fabric of our Joie de Vive.

That being said, me expounding what I know about the FPC
would be like you listening to a child trying to explain what’s inside a book
by looking at the cover; however, I can tell you how to find out the whole
story of the FPC from the people who study and live this historical American
phenomenon; they are here in New Orleans and hold the pieces of the puzzle that
make up who we are, where we came from and where we’re going.

For sure you could just go to Professor Google and that
would end up with inaccuracies, confusion and besides it would keep you from
discovering the real deal. There’s a place that you can physically go to and
have an immersion that will leave you wiser in spirit and intelligence while
opening up your heart and your mind. It’s Le Musee de f. p. c. at 2336
Esplanade Ave. New Orleans, La. www.lemuseedefpc.com
open Wednesday through Sunday; call for times and to book a tour 504-323-5074

Book a tour? Yes. Situated in a wonderful Greek revival
(I call it a) mansion are documents and photographs and art work and a
knowledgeable staff that gave me more information in forty-five minutes than I
could digest in weeks. From the French Quarter it’s about a twenty minute walk
or bus ride or whatever, past stately large homes and shading oak trees where
at one time many FPC had homes. The neighborhood is called upper Treme, where
also, FYI was an enclave of Greek, Lebanese and Syrian peoples; but that’s
another story. Heck there are more stories here than you can shake a stick at.

So, there you have it (or as much as I have room to spill
out to you) for those of you that want to know more about this city than red
beans and rice on Monday and where to find a decent happy hour; know this:
unless you learn about our heritage (s) here, you will never fully understand
New Orleans.